Borini is reluctant to join Sunderland after the stress of being on loan at the Stadium of Light during last season's relegation struggle.

He would prefer to play in a side more likely to push for honours of in the Champions' League, but could yet find that Sunderland is his best option.

Poyet said: "We're waiting but there's nothing I can tell you because there's no more than last week, no less than next week probably. It's still ongoing.

"We will keep working because we know him very well. Fabio ticks all the boxes because we know what we are going to get.

"We're still confident it is going to happen, but the longer it goes, the more we have to look at other options because that's my job. But every time you are about to make a step forward (with another target) you stop because you still want Fabio.

"It cannot happen that we are left with nobody though. It is a position we need to improve, but there are other positions we are looking at as well and I am working very hard to get the rest of the players we need."